1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election

Welsh local election April 2022 1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election Wales Parliamentary no yes 1934 Carmarthenshire County Council election 1934 1946 Carmarthenshire County Council election 1946 All 57 seats to Carmarthenshire County Council 29 Liberal 0/57 Conservative Party (UK) 0/57 Labour Party (UK) 0/57 Independent 0/57 Liberal Unionist 0/57 Council control Council control after election An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election. Due to the Second World War no elections were held in 1940 and 1943 therefore the 1937 election was followed by the 1946 election. Overview of the result As in all previous inter-war elections, the Independent group won a majority of the seats and this majority was bolstered by holding the majority of the aldermanic seats also. By 1937 the Labour Party held almost all the seats in the industrial eastern part of the county. Boundary changes There were a number of boundary changes at this election. In Carmarthen town the boundaries were redrawn, reducing the number of wards from four to three. In Llanelli, in contrast, the number of wards were increased from eight to nine following a similar process. An additional ward was also created in Ammanford and new wards at Pontyberem and Trimsaran.County Council Election. New Constitution of Bigger Body. Independents Lose One Seat: Labour Gain Four. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002971/19370312/006/0006?browse=False 12 September 2024 Welshman 12 March 1937 6 Other wards were renamed or had their boundaries slightly altered. Candidates Around half the wards were uncontested, mainly in the rural areas. At Kidwelly, Sir Alfred Stephens, a member of the Council since 1898 (apart from a short interval between 1907 and 1910) decided to retire.36 Years' Public Service. S“ alfred stephens” chairman carmarthenshireir Alfred Stephens Leaves County Council. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002971/19370305/006/0006?browse=False 12 September 2024 Welshman 5 March 1937 6 Outcome A similar number of contests took place compared with 1934. This included contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates. Overall, Labour gained four seats, including three of the newly created wards. In the Llanelli area, six Labour candidates were returned unopposed including for the new Llanelly Division 7 and Pontyberem wards.Surprises in County Council Elections. Two Independents Lose their Seats. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004711/19370306/001/0001?browse=False 28 November 2024 Llanelly Star 6 March 1937 1 The owner of the Llanelly Star, Brinley Jones, was defeated by a Labour candidate, and Labour gained another seat in Burry Port. In Llanelly Ward 3, Haddon Jones was displaced by another Independent, Jim Jones, while in Ward 4, Martin Edwards, a member of Llanelly Borough Council won the seat previously held by the late Tom Charles. In Ward 8, W. Powell Rees, who had lost his borough council seat to Communist Brin James in 1935, now faced the same oppoenent in the county election. On this occasion, however, Rees won very comfortably. Much attention was also focused on Lady Howard Stepney's successful campaign in Pembrey ward. Ward results Abergwili Abergwili 1937 Independent (politician) David Davies* unopposed Independent (politician) Ammanford No.1 Boundary Change. Ammanford No.1 1937 Labour Party (UK) John Harries unopposed Labour Party (UK) Ammanford No.2 Boundary Change. Ammanford No.2 1937 Labour Party (UK) Frank Davies* 708 Independent (politician) David Jones 487 Labour Party (UK) Berwick Berwick 1937 Labour Party (UK) T.S. Bowen* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Burry Port Boundary Change. Burry Port 1937 Labour Party (UK) W.D. Jenkins 993 Independent (politician) F.J. Morgan 672 Labour Party (UK) Caio Caio 1937 Independent (politician) Thomas Davies 438 Independent (politician) Isaac Williams* 297 Independent (politician) Carmarthen Division 1 Carmarthen Division 1 1937 Independent (politician) William Jones* unopposed Independent (politician) Carmarthen Division 2 Carmarthen Division 2 1937 Independent (politician) H.S. Holmes* unopposed Independent (politician) Carmarthen Division 3 Carmarthen Division 3 1937 Independent (politician) J. Ithel P. Thomas* unopposed Independent (politician) Cenarth Cenarth 1937 Independent (politician) Ellenora James* unopposed Independent (politician) Cilycwm Cilycwm 1937 Independent (politician) Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys* unopposed Independent (politician) Conwil Conwil 1937 Independent (politician) J.J. Evans* 523 Independent (politician) J.W.L. Harries 222 Independent (politician) Cwmamman Cwmamman 1937 Independent (politician) John Phillips* 1,068 Independent (politician) D.M. Richards 735 Independent (politician) Hengoed Hengoed 1937 Labour Party (UK) Joseph Howells* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Kidwelly Kidwelly 1937 Labour Party (UK) J. Amos Jones 708 Independent (politician) H.J. Owen 378 Labour Party (UK) Independent (politician) Laugharne Laugharne 1937 Independent (politician) S.B. Williams* 612 Labour Party (UK) Owen Williams 197 Independent (politician) Llanarthney Llanarthney 1937 Labour Party (UK) W. Edgar Lewis* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llanboidy Llanboidy 1937 Independent (politician) Benjamin Salmon* unopposed Independent (politician) Llandebie North Llandebie North 1937 Independent (politician) David O. Davies 702 Labour Party (UK) Gwilym R. Thomas* 666 Independent (politician) Labour Party (UK) Llandebie South Llandebie South 1937 Labour Party (UK) David Benjamin Lewis* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llandilo Rural Llandilo Rural 1937 Independent (politician) Evan Davies* 708 Independent (politician) J.W. Nicholas 660 Independent (politician) Llandilo Urban Llandilo Urban 1937 Independent (politician) Benjamin Hughes* unopposed Independent (politician) Llandovery Llandovery 1937 Independent (politician) Harry Vaughan Watkins* 586 Labour Party (UK) James James 220 Independent (politician) Llandyssilio Llandyssilio 1937 Independent (politician) Henry Morris* unopposed Independent (politician) Llanedy Llanedy 1937 Labour Party (UK) Thomas William Morgan* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llanegwad Llanegwad 1937 Independent (politician) Griffith Evans* 576 Independent (politician) Wynne Davies 265 Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 1 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 1 1937 Independent (politician) Daniel Roberts* 1,141 Independent Labour Party J.G. Davies 465 Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 2 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 2 1937 Labour Party (UK) W.T. Griffiths 565 Independent (politician) Brinley R. Jones* 486 Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 3 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 3 1934 Independent (politician) James Jones 400 Labour Party (UK) C.R. Rees 309 Independent (politician) D. Haddon Jones* 252 Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 4 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 4 1937 Independent (politician) Martin L. Edwards 598 Labour Party (UK) D.J. Charles 512 Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 5 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 5 1934 Independent (politician) Gwen Trubshaw* 666 Communist Party (UK) E.F. Seaward 25 Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 6 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 6 1937 Labour Party (UK) W. Douglas Hughes* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 7 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 7 1937 Labour Party (UK) J. Llewellyn Evans unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llanelly Division 8 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 8 1937 Independent (politician) W. Powell Rees* 857 Communist Party (UK) Brin James 212 Independent (politician) Llanelly Division 9 Boundary Change Llanelly Division 8 1934 Independent (politician) A.H. Olive* 1,077 Labour Party (UK) R.S. Beynon 191 Independent (politician) Llanfihangel Aberbythick Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1937 Independent (politician) W.J. Evans* unopposed Independent (politician) Llanfihangel-ar-Arth Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1934 Independent (politician) E. Haydn Davies* 612 Independent (politician) E.J. Lewis 298 Independent (politician) Llangadock Llangadock 1937 Independent (politician) W.T. Morgan 536 Independent (politician) R.E. Williams* 493 Independent (politician) Llangeler Llangeler 1937 Independent (politician) R.G. Owen* 851 Independent (politician) Thomas Jones 431 Independent (politician) Llangendeirne Llangendeirne 1937 Independent (politician) James Jenkins* unopposed Independent (politician) Llangennech Llangennech 1937 Labour Party (UK) D.J. Davies* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llangunnor Llangunnor 1937 Independent (politician) William Edwards* 528 Independent (politician) J.J. Bowen 384 Independent (politician) Llanon Llanon 1937 Labour Party (UK) Rees Morgan* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Llansawel Llansawel 1937 Independent (politician) John Morgan unopposed Independent (politician) Llanstephan Llanstephan 1937 Independent (politician) T.Ll. Haries* unopposed Independent (politician) Llanybyther Llanybyther 1937 Independent (politician) Benjamin Edward Davies 585 Independent (politician) W. James Williams* 529 Independent (politician) Myddfai Myddfai 1937 Independent (politician) W.R. Clement* unopposed Independent (politician) Pembrey Boundary Change Pembrey 1937 Independent (politician) Lady Howard Stepney 799 Labour Party (UK) J.J. Davies 586 Independent (politician) Pontyberem Boundary Change Pontyberem 1937 Labour Party (UK) David John Jones unopposed Labour Party (UK) Quarter Bach Quarter Bach 1934 Labour Party (UK) William Watkin Davies unopposed Labour Party (UK) Rhydcymmerai Rhydcymmerai 1937 Independent (politician) David Thomas* unopposed Independent (politician) St Clears St Clears 1937 Independent (politician) Joseph David Rees* unopposed Independent (politician) St Ishmael St Ishmael 1937 Independent (politician) E.H. Stephens* unopposed Independent (politician) Trelech Trelech 1937 Independent (politician) Lewis L. Bowen* 525 Independent (politician) J.E. Jones 295 Independent (politician) Trimsaran Boundary Change Trimsaran 1937 Labour Party (UK) Gomer Evans* unopposed Labour Party (UK) Westfa and Glyn Westfa and Glyn 1937 Labour Party (UK) Emrys Aubrey* 1,256 Independent Labour I.J. Haries 428 Labour Party (UK) Whitland Whitland 1937 Independent (politician) Thomas Lewis Phillips* unopposed Independent (politician) Election of aldermen In addition to the 57 councillors the council included an aldermanic bench amounting to a third of the number of elected councillors. Following the creation of additional wards an extra aldermanic seat was created. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the ten retiring aldermen were re-elected and Gwendoline Trubshaw, the new chairman of the Council, elected to the additional aldermanic seat created as a result of redistribution.County Aldermen Re-Elected https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004711/19370320/005/0005 12 September 2024 Llanelly Star 20 March 1937 5 By-elections 1937-46 1937 Llanelly Division 5 by-election A by-election was held in May due to the elevation of Gwendoline Trubshaw, the current chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, to the aldermanic bench. The Labour candidate secured a narrow victory over a former long-serving member of the Llanelly Borough Council.Socialist Wins Division 5 Bye-Election. 41 Votes Majority Over Former Mayor. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004711/19370508/001/0001 Llanelly Star 8 May 1937 1 Llanelly Division 3 by-election Labour Party (UK) Daniel Ll. Richards 286 Independent (politician) T. Hay Samuel 245 1938 Llanelly Division 8 by-election A by-election was held in May due to the elevation of W. Powell Rees to the aldermanic bench following the death of Alderman Joseph Roberts. The Rev. Waldo Roberts, minister of Bethel Baptist Chapel was returned unopposed.Unopposed Return of Bethel Pastor to County Council. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004711/19380521/003/0003?browse=False Llanelly Star 21 May 1938 3 He had previously served on Boards of Guardians at Neath and Holyhead. Llanelly Division 8 by-election Independent (politician) Rev F. Waldo Roberts 245 1939 Llanelly Division 8 by-election Having served as a county councillor for less than a year, the Rev. Waldo Roberts died in April 1939.Death of Rev. Waldo Roberts. Bethel Pastor’s Interest in Public Affairs. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0004711/19390429/001/0001?browse=False Llanelly Star 9 December 2024 29 April 1939 1 At the by-election, Fred Howells held the seat for the Independents.County Council By-Election. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004711/19390729/001/0001 Llanelly Star 29 July 1939 9 December 2024 1 Llanelly Division 8 by-election Independent (politician) Fred Howells 446 Labour Party (UK) T.M. Price 215 References Category:Carmarthenshire County Council elections Category:1937 Welsh local elections